What to know: Bowe Bergdahl

Bowe Bergdahl, the last American soldier held captive from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, is on a long journey home after being freed in exchange for five Taliban detainees who had been held at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Bergdahl was deployed to Afghanistan in May 2009. He was 23 and a private at the time of his capture, which happened after he finished a guard shift at a combat outpost on June 30, 2009, in Paktika province.

He was believed to be held by operatives from the Haqqani network, an insurgent force led by warlord Siraj Haqqani, who has a reputation for holding positions that are extreme even by Taliban standards. The network is affiliated with the Taliban and al Qaeda, and it was not always clear whether Haqqani operatives would abide by any agreement among the United States, Qatar and the Taliban.

U.S. special operations forces recovered Bergdahl without incident early Saturday local time at a pickup point in eastern Afghanistan, near the border with Pakistan, a senior Department of Defense official told CNN. American officials said the government of Qatar brokered the deal.

Some critics, including Sen. John McCain, a former prisoner of war, and Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, have cheered Bergdahl's release but have serious concerns about the release of five Taliban members from Guantanamo in exchange. "This fundamental shift in U.S. policy signals to terrorists around the world a greater incentive to take U.S. hostages," said Rogers.

A senior administration official said Bergdahl's release wasn't a concession and was in line with Obama's goal of closing the Guantanamo facility. According to administration officials, Qatar, which brokered the deal, agreed to take custody of the detainees and provide assurances they would not pose a threat to the United States, including a one-year ban from travel out of Qatar.

There were also concerns the administration didn't follow a law that requires giving Congress 30 days' notice before releasing any detainees from the Guantanamo Bay military prison. National Security Adviser Susan Rice said Sunday the "acute urgency" of Bergdahl's failing health and a narrow opportunity to win his freedom justified making the move without notifying Congress.

Questions also surround the circumstances of Bergdahl's disappearance, and conflicting details have emerged. Published accounts have varied widely, from claims he walked off the post to another that he was grabbed from a latrine.

Some troops have bristled at suggestions that Bergdahl is a hero, saying he shed his weapons while on guard duty and deliberately walked away. There are also reports he expressed disgust with America's cause in Afghanistan before disappearing. At least six soldiers were killed during searches for Bergdahl.

A reporter asked Hagel Sunday whether Bergdahl had left his post without permission or deserted -- and, if so, whether he would be punished. "Our first priority is assuring his well-being and his health and getting him reunited with his family," Hagel said. "Other circumstances that may develop and questions, those will be dealt with later."

On Monday, Pentagon spokesman Adm. John Kirby said U.S. officials "still don't have a complete picture of what caused him to leave his base that night….But let's not forget, he was held captive as a prisoner for five years. Five years by himself. That's a pretty high price to pay for whatever impelled him to walk off that base."

Bergdahl arrived at an American military hospital in Germany on Sunday. He was being evaluated by doctors and is facing a lengthy repatriation process. He's in stable condition "receiving treatment for conditions that require hospitalization," Landstuhl Regional Medical Center said in a statement. Beyond saying he requires attention to "dietary and nutrition needs," the hospital didn't elaborate, citing medical privacy requirements.

Those in charge of treating Bergdahl are working to build up his confidence in them, a senior Defense Department official said, noting that Bergdahl hasn't been able to trust anyone for five years. He'll eventually head to the United States for further treatment when he's ready, the hospital said.

A senior Defense official confirmed Bowe Bergdahl is having trouble speaking English but the reasons for that were not clear, given the trauma he's been through.

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